Biography
Mark Eric, a Los Angeles native, spent his teenage years living the classic Southern California lifestyle, riding waves during daylight hours and crafting lyrics about romantic interests after dark, until his songwriting gifts drew him into the Hollywood scene. At sixteen he crossed paths with Russ Regan, then employed by Warner Bros., although his first real opening occurred while he waited outside the office of label chief Lou Adler. There he encountered Bob Raucher, an engineer at the local KHJ radio station, who asked why the teenager was not in school. Raucher took an immediate interest in the suntanned surfer-songwriter and, acting as his “personal management,” soon arranged sessions for Eric at Gold Star studios in Hollywood. One composition from that period was later cut by the Four Freshmen, who had by then moved to Liberty. Additional dates, supported by studio musicians, brought Eric back to Regan, now running UNI under MCA ownership, and the executive signed the promising soft pop singer to the label. Eric released only a single album, A Midsummer's Day Dream, which appeared in 1969 on UNI’s R&B imprint Revue Records. He eventually stepped away from music to work as an actor in Hollywood, appearing on numerous television sitcoms and in several commercials. One of his songs, “Fly Me a Place for the Summer,” was later recorded by the Mike Curb Congregation for an airline commercial.